vickers



Mw 3L W55 H. w wcKEms EW POWER STEERING SYSTEM WITH HYDRAULIC BOOSTER MOTOR- Filed Aug. 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,1m/Emule. HARRY E vlcKERs ATTORNEY y E, w55 H. F. mamas EJUE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WITH HYDRAULIC BOOSTER MOTOR Filed Aug. 16, 1952 2 .Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HARRY F VICKERS j ATTORNEY bei PWER STEERHNG SYSTEM WTH HYDRAULIC EESTER MTUR Harry F'. Vickers, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Vickers incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 16, 1952, Serial No. 304,326

'7 Claims. (Ci. ISD-79.2)

This invention relates to power transmissions, and is particularly applicable to those of the type comprising two or more iluid pressure energy translating devices7 one of which may function as a pump and another as a fluid motor.

The invention is generally concerned with power steering for the dirigible wheels of a motor vehicle. Power steering has been in wide use on commercial vehicles for a number of years but has only recently begun to invade the passenger ear field. As might be expected, most of the present passenger car installations are more or less extensive modifications of the prior commercial vehicle devices. This evolutionary development has resulted in the retention of characteristics which, while not highly objectionable in commercial vehicles, are quite undesirable in units for passenger car use.

Gne of the undesirable features ot the conventional booster nits is the complexity of making the initial installation. This results in both loss of time at assembly and in added cost of the vehicle. In the high speed assembly lines of passenger car production and in the highly competitive field of their sales these results are most un welcome. Complex installation is also usually accompanied by difhcult maintenance problems should repairs be necessary. This is especially true in view of the growing practice of removing and exchanging units in event of failure, and returning the faulty unit to a base repair shop.

Another objectional characteristic retained by most conventional boosters is the location of the power unit on or in close proximity to the steering column. Thus any noise generated by the unit is transmitted directly to the passenger compartment through the steering column.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact, rugged, and low cost steering booster power unit.

lt is a further object to provide such a unit positioned remote from the vehicle steering column thus isolating any noise it produces from the passenger compartment.

Another object is to provide a unitary assembly of power mechanism and control valve mechanism providing ease of installation and removal.

It is also an object to provide such a unit which, when secured to the vehicle frame, provides a junction for the tie rods and the drag link.

lt is still another object of this invention to provide such a unit, the mere mounting of which effects all necessary uid connections.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention as incorporated in a vehicle having independent front wheel suspension.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 3 showing a preferred form of the power unit illustrated in Figure l.

ir May Si, lilou Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial section taken on line t--d of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view on line of Figure Figure 6 is a View on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure l, tiere are shown the independently sprung dirigible wheels l@ of a motor vehicle whose iront cross frame member is indicated by the dotted outline 12. Wheels 1b are supported by the wishbone links 14 which are pivotally connected to the vehicle frame on the axes 16. The usual knuckle arms 13 are provided for turning the wheels about the knuckle axes 2i? to steer the vehicle. The booster unit 22 is secured to the frame cross member i2 and includes a tie rod junction plate 2d and a drag link connection arm 2d both pit/ated on the `unit about an axis at 28. Tie rods 3i) connect each of the knuckle arms 1S to the tie rod junction plate 24 and a drag link 32 leads from the steer ing gear 34 and pitman arm 36 to the arm 26. A steering column 3S extends from gear 34 to a driver controlled wheel 37. It should be noted that the point where each tie rod Sti connects to the junction plate 2d lies on the axis 16 of the Wishbone supporting its respective wheel iii. Such an arrangement leaves the steering unaffected by spring action.

Mounting and dismounting of the booster unit is greatly facilitated by the provision of .a sub plate 38 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the vehicle frame 12. The central portion it of the booster unit housing has mounting ears 42 thereon through which the mounting bolts fifi extend into tapped holes in the sub plate All necessary hydraulic connections are eiected by the mere mounting of the booster unit 22 on suo plate 38 since passages 46, 48, and Sii in the booster housing are coincident with the passages 52, 54, and 56 in the sub plate 33 at the juncture between the housing and sub plate. O-ring seals 58 insure against leakage from the passages at their junction. lassages 52, S4, and 56 are intersected respectively by passages 6l), 62, and Gli which extend to the upper face 66 of the sub plate 33 where each is provided with a threaded connection port as shown at 68 in Figure 3. Passages 46 and 50 are connected respectively to the opposing head ends 7i? and '72 of a pair of cylinders 74 and 76 by tubes 78 and gil extending between the central portion iii and and the cylinder end caps $2 and 84. Passage 4b leads from the interior of the housing portion 40.

As can best be seen in Figure 3 and Figure 5, junction plate 24 is provided with ball studs S6 for the conncce tion of tie rods 3l? and arm 26 has a ball stud S3 for connection of drag link 32. Plate 24 and arm 26 are concentrically pivoted in the central portion 4t) of the booster unit 22.

Plate 2dis spline connected at 9i) to a. shaft 92 jourl nalled in a bushing 94. Shaft 92 is splined at its inner end to a gear 96 which meshes with a rack 98 carried by a connecting rod lill). Rod itil) extends between a pair of opposed pistons 102 and 1M which are secured to its endsand are conjointly slidable in the cylinders 74 and '76. Cylinders 7d and 76 are secured to the central body portion di) by a plurality of bolts lltlti and sealed by a pair of O-ring seals 193. lt can be seen that a positively acting linkage system interconnecting pistons 102 and 104 and the dirigible wheels l@ has thus been established.

Arm 26 is spline connected at 11@ to a tubular shaft 112 which carries a male spline at each end and snugly encircles the shaft 92. A plug 114i serves as a closure in the housing bore 116 and also as a journal for the shaft 112. O-ring seals 118 insure against leakage of fluid from the housing. A spacer 12b and the snap rings 1.22 insure retention and proper positioning of the shafts 92 and 11?. and the gears 96 and a gear i243.

Shaft 112 is splined at its inner end to the gear 124 enormes which has the same pitch diameter as gear 26 and engages a rack 12o on a valve operating rod 28. Valve operating rod i255 extends between a pair of valves i3d and M2 carried by pistons ilZ and 164. Valves lltl and 132 act to control pressure operation of the pistons M22 and 104 in a manner hereinafter described. It can be seen that a positively acting linkage system is thus established between the steering gear 34 and the valves lfd) and 132.

A pair of opposed springs R35; and 136 act against the sides of a U-shaped bracket 13S secured to the junction plate 2f.l to bias a pair of stop pins lli@ inwardly, toward the arm 26, to a position where their heads Mi abut the bracket. The inner ends of pins lfil contact arm 26 to establish the spring centered po* sition in which arm 26 and plate 24 are illustrated. A sleeve i423 on each of the pins id@ limits the lost motion between plate 24- and arm 26 by limiting the outward movement of pins Mtl.

Referring now to Figure 4, each piston N2 and lila has a valve bore M2 therein which is closed and sealed at its outward end by a plug ldd. Each ci the valve bores 142 is uid connected to the cylinder head end '76 or 72 associated with its respective piston 1@2 or 164 by a radial passage M6 and an axial groove 14S in that piston. Each of the valves i3d and 132 is of tubular construction and has an annular groove lit) connected by radial passages 152 to the interior i54- of the valve. Another set of radial passages 156 effects iiuid communication between the valve interior and the central interior portion 153 of the booster unit. A spring loll acting between a snap ring 162 in the valves and another, loft, on the rod 123, biases each valve outward toward a limiting position established by abutment of the snap rings lido and 164. The abutment of snap rings E64 and lido enables rod 12S to exert a positive pull on either of the valves 13u or 132 and the resilient coupling furnished by springs i60 permits the rod H to be pushed toward either valve even when that valve abuts the bore closure plug 144. As illustrated, the valves i3d) and 132 are normally open, that is, the head ends 7G and 72 communicate with case interior 15d, but are shifts-.ble through the rod 123 to isolate either of those ends from the case interior.

Since gears 96 and 124 are concentrically mounted and have the same pitch diameter, their conioint rotation will produce identical movement of operating rod F123 and connecting rod Zilli), thus leaving uneiected the relative position of valves i3@ and l32 and pistons 192 and lila. lt follows that relative movement between arrn 26 and plate 24 will cause shitting of rod t28, with respect to rod llilll, and of one of the valves liti) or 132 relative to its respective piston to2 or 104. As heretofore mentioned, relative movement between arms 26 and plate 24 is resisted by the biasing force of springs 134 and 13d and limited by the sleeves E43 on stop pins 140.

The pumping unit indicated schematically at 16S iu Figure l may be of the multiple gear type described in the patent to George P. Bentley et al., No. 2,432,502. Pump M8 would normally be in a driving relation with the engine, not shown, of the vehicle and provides two independent sources of supply of pressure fluid. Each or" these Sources connectsito one or" the passages o@ and 64 through conduits ltl and 72, The conduit W4 extends between passage 62 and a fluid reservoir 176.

ln operation, a steering movement applied to the wheel is transmitted through gear 34, pitman arm 3o and drag link 32 to the arm 26. l resistance of wheels il) to turning is not large, the centering force of springs 134 and 136 may not be overcome and steering will be entirely manual 'through the springs 1.34 and 36, plate 24, and the tie rods 39.

Should wheels il) substantially resist turning, the centering orce of springs 13d and 136 will be overcome and arm 2e will pivot relative to plate 24, thus shifting one of the valves 13u or 132 as heretofore described. With valves 130 and 132 in the neutral position illustrated, the fluid supplied to the head ends 7d and 72 by multiple pump 163 will be ported to the tank 176 through a path which includes grooves 14S, radial passages lfi, annular grooves 50, radial passages 152, the valve interior 158 and passage 48. Shifting of one of the valves 130 or 132 is effective to restrict or cornpletely block flow from its respective head end 70 or 72, causing a build up of pressure in that end which acts on the piston therein thus producing steering force.

For example, assume it is desired to cause the vehicle to turn to the right as viewed in Figure l. Wheel 37 would be turned to the right causing pitman arm 36 to move drag link. 32 to the left. On overcoming the centen force of springs i3d and 36, lost motion between arm 2e and plate 24 results in arm 26 rotating clockwise relative to plate 24. Gear 24 then shifts operating rod Z and hence valve i313 to the left as viewed in Figure 4, causing pressure to build up in head end 70 and shifting piston itl/2 and rod lil@ to the left. Shifting ot rod liti) drives gear 96 and hence plate 24 in a clockwise direction thus ell'ecting power steering and a follow up action which restores valve 130 to the neutral position. Operation is analogous in turning the vehicle to the left.

it should be noted that installation and removal of the booster unit is easily accomplished. For example, to remove the unit it is only necessary that the bolts 44 be removed and the bali socket joints between the unit and the tie rods and drag link be disconnected.

Further, it can be seen that the present invention provides a compact unitary structure including power pistons and operating valve and having a minimum of eaternal fluid connection ports.

lt should also be noted that the booster unit is positioned remote from the vehicle steering column, thus isolating noises connected therewith from the passenger compartment.

vWhile the form ot embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all corning within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. ,in a vehicle steering system having a pair of dirigible wheels with a tie rod leading to each and having a steering gear operably connected to a drag link: a source of fluid pressure; a steering booster power unit having a housing secured to the vehicle frame and uid pressurel shiftable piston means in the housing; a tie rod junction member mounted pivotally on the housing in driving relation with the piston means and having an end of each tie rod secured thereto; means forming a lost motion connection between the drag link and the junction member; and valve means responsive to lost motion between the drag linl: and junction member to control the llow of uid pressure to the power unit and thus eilect movement of the piston means.

2. En a vehicle steering system having a pair of dirigible wheels with a tie rod leading to each and having a steering gear operably connected to a drag link: a Source of iluid pressure; a steering booster power unit having a housing secured to the vehicle frame and fluid pressure shiftaole piston means in the housing; a tie rod junction member mounted pivotally on the housing in driving relation with 3. in a vehicle steering system having a pair of dirigible wheels with a tie rod leading to each and having a steering gear operably connected to a drag link: a source of duid pressure; a steering booster power unit having a housing secured to the vehicle frame and Huid pressure shiftable piston means in the housing; valve means inside the housing shiftable to control the tiow of pressure uid and thus effect movement of the piston means; a pair of concentric shafts mounted on the housing capable of limited reiative rotation, the first being in a driving relation with said piston means and the second in a driving relation with said valve means; a tie rod junction member secured to said first shaft and having an end of each tie rod connected thereto; and an arm connected to the drag link and secured to said second shaft whereby relative rotation of said shafts will cause shifting of said valve.

4. ln a vehicle steering system having a pair of dirigible wheels with a tie rod leading to each and having a steering gear operably connected to a drag link: a source of luid pressure; a steering booster power unit having a housing secured to the vehicle frame and fluid pressure shiftable piston means in the housing; valve means carried by said piston means shittable to control the flow of pressure uid and thus effect movement of the piston means; a pair of concentric shafts mounted on the housing capable ot limited relative rotation, the first being in a driving relation with said piston means and the second in a driving relation with said valve means; a tie rod junction member secured to said first shaft and having an end of each tie rod connected thereto; and an arm connected to the drag link and secured to said second shaft, whereby relative rotation of said shafts will cause shifting of said valve, and shifting of said piston means will restore the valve thus producing follow-up action.

5. in a vehicle steering system having a pair of dirigiblc wheels with a tie rod leading to each: a steering member; a tie rod junction member to which one end of each tie rod is connected; means including a first rotatable shaft for pivotally supporting the junction member; a power operated servomotor in driving relation with said shaft whereby power steering can be effected; valve means controlling operation of said seivomotor and having lirst and second relatively movable parts, said iirst part being movable with said servomotor to terminate power steering; a second shaft rotatable relative to said rst shaft and concentric therewith in driving relation with the second part of said valve means; and linkage means connecting the steering member and said second shaft to initiate power steering.

6. For use in a vehicle steering system having a pair of dirigible wheels with a tie rod leading to each and having a steering gear operably connected to a drag link, a unitary assembly of a power operated steering booster comprising: a housing having provisions :for mounting on the vehicle frame; a power operated servomotor in said housing; a tie rod junction member pivoted on said housing in driving relation with said servomotor; a drag link connection arm in a force transmitting relation with said junction member; a lost motion driving connection between said connection arm and said junction member; and means responsive to relative motion between said connection arm and said junction member to actuate said servomotor.

7. in a vehicle steering system having a. pair of dirigible wheels with a tie rod leading to each: a steering member; a tie rod junction member to which one end of each tie rod is connected; means including a first rotatable shaft for pivotally supporting the junction member; a power operated servomotor in driving relation with said shaft whereby power steering can be effected; a second shaft rotatable relative to said rst shaft and concentric 'therewith; valve means controlling operation of said servomotor, said valve having a member movable by actuation of said second shaft, and being associated with said motor in a follow up relation; and linkage means connecting the steering member and said second shaft to initiate power steering.

References Cited in the 'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,714 Farley Aug. 23, 1932 1,875,226 Dewandre Aug. 30, 1932 2,053,272 Eaton Sept. 8, 1936 2,219,645 Bartho et al Oct. 29, 1940 2,426,938 Langley Sept, 2, 1947 2,427,340 Allison Sept. 16, 1947 2,429,185 Hukill Oct. 14, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 335,539 Great Britain Sept. 24, 1930 347,212 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1931 758,143 France Jan. 11, 1935 

